Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 55395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 55395 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 277(@200wpm)___ 222(@250wpm)___ 185(@300wpm)
“Trent and I have some exciting news we want to share with you,” Kennedy takes over. My eyes glance around the room, noticing everyone is aptly waiting to hear the news, but I’m pretty sure we can all figure it out. “I’m pregnant!” All the girls crowd in on Kenny, and while they did this to tell everyone, I’m pretty sure this is more for the girls than the rest of us. The guys make their escape after giving Kennedy a hug and a kiss, and I’ll wade in once things settle down.
“Alright, now that the girls are busy, Jude, go ahead. Take the floor and make it quick,” Asher says with sarcasm in his tone. Once the girls get to talking, nothing will stand in their way.
“As I told Jagger today, Lyric was at the house today and then stopped at your parents’. I’m not sure if she went there or your mom saw her and went over. You could always ask your parents, but that’s up to you. The other news I have sucks.” He pauses for a moment before he continues with his eyes on me. “Her mom passed away twelve or so years ago, battled with cancer. As much as she tried to fight it, nothing helped. Her dad’s health declined as well. Lyric was and has been his primary caregiver up until he passed away this year from dementia.” I rock back on my heels. Fuck, that’s damn brutal. “I’m still waiting on more details about the house situation and what’s going down in that area. It might take a few more days. I do know Lyric isn’t sleeping there. She’s currently at Oak Haven Bed and Breakfast.”
“Well, damn,” Asher breathes. He must have gotten off work, grabbed Lennie, and came right over. He’s still wearing his blue firefighter uniform that he wears when he’s not on a call.
“Poor girl has been through it,” Johnny says, taking a sip of his whisky.
“Explains why she’s back, though, taking care of business since everything has been left on her shoulders.” Tysen looks like he’s lost in thought. Now that he’s gotten a third pilot on rotation for Vaughn Air Elite, his private charter company, he’s able to be around more.
“Shit, she’s what, thirty-three?” Trent responds. I could very well have him do a complete background search with his job as a police officer. Except Jude has taken over keeping tabs on everyone and every facet of our lives.
“Thirty-five,” I grunt, because no fucking way I’d have had any type of relationship with her when I was seventeen and she was thirteen. I’m the youngest in the group. While the rest of them are hitting thirty-nine and forty, I’ll be hitting thirty-eight later this year.
“Someone’s memory is sharp as a tack,” Matthew mutters. I give him a sharp look.
“Incoming,” Crew states, letting us know the girls are about to converge on our group. A fucking welcome relief. I finish my beer, more than ready to call it a night. The other day had me questioning why everything seemed too quiet, and now I’m over here ready to leave my friends to have nothing except silence.
“Congrats, Kennedy, happy for you.” I side swipe her before she moves toward Trent. In the past year, we’ve had weddings, pregnancies, and engagements, and I don’t see an end in sight. Matthew will more than likely be the next given the way he’s talked about his housekeeper lately.
“Thanks, are you doing okay?” she asks.
“Never better. I’m gonna head home. I’ve got an early start in the morning.” Kenny nods, and I make my rounds, being sure to make a plate to take home. I’ve already seen the worry written on Winnie’s face. That’s the last thing I want. She’s got enough going on, and Johnny would kick my ass if something upset her. That man is wrapped around her finger, much like Tysen is Maci’s, Asher is Lennie’s, and Trent is Kennedy’s. Yeah, I don’t see me settling down anytime soon, especially because Lyric is back. She fucked that up a long time ago, and it’s best left where it belongs—in the past.
4
LYRIC
“Here goes nothing,” I say to my empty room at the bed and breakfast the next day. After I spoke with Mrs. Steele, who told me to call her by her first name, Eleanor, I also learned Mr. Steele’s given name is Troy. We spoke about the house, how it all happened, and given the background, I was shocked but also felt sorry about the tenant.
The single mom who had lived there for the past five years with three children all under the age of ten tried to make ends meet. Apparently, she did a really good job, too, until her abusive ex made a sudden appearance. Things went from bad to worse, and he took his anger out on her, the kids, and my house. The tenant, Vivian, called the police numerous times, but the husband would take off and couldn’t be found. She put a restraining order on him, and child protective services were involved, too.